Golf putt alignment device



Aug 2 1966 v D. F-ALUMBO 3,264,002

GOLF PUTT ALIGNMENT DEVI CE Filed Oct. 15, 1963 INVENTOR DominickPolumbo Patented August 2, 1966 3,264,002 GOLF PUTT ALIGNMENT DEVICEDominick Palumho, Oakdale, N.Y. (82 Boulevard Ave., West Islip, LongIsland, N.Y.) Filed Oct. 15, 1963, Ser. No. 316,237 1 Claim. (Cl.273-183) This invention relates generally to the game of golf and moreparticularly to a golf putt alignment device capable of assisting thegolfer in his endeavor to sink the golf ball into the cup of the greenby providing an imaginary guide line connecting the ball and cup priorto and during the putting stroke.

Whereas golfers presently relay upon various methods or aids toaccomplish visual alignment of the ball with respect to the cup, ase.g., lying the golf club upon the green in a direction extending fromthe ball to the cup, and like preliminary guidance devices, temporaryvisual alignment only, is afforded inasmuch as such guidance devices areremoved just prior to the putting stroke and the memory of the golfermust be relied upon for accurate effectuation thereof. It will beappreciated, however, that such methods or aids are very often absent ofsubstantial value especially because of the golfers inability to retainthe memory image sufficiently long for correlation thereof with hisswing and further because of the inherent inaccuracies of such devicesin failing to provide true alignment even before the golfer is ready tocarry through with his putt.

Accordingly, and consonant with the foregoing, the instant invention hasfor an object the provision of a structural device adapted to enablevisual alignment of the ball with the cup during the putting swingthereby precluding any reliance upon the memory of the golfer.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a device which maybe associated with sunglasses and spectacles of like character whichwill enable the golfer to envision an imaginary connection between theball and the cup of the green.

A further object of this invention resides in the provision of a puttalignment device comprised of a substantially opaque linear elementadapted to be positioned spacedly with respect to the eyes of the user.

Another object of the instant invention is to provide a device of theforegoing character which includes means enabling positional adjustmentthereof intermediate both eyes of the user and the object being viewed.

Still another object of the present invention resides in the provisionof a putt alignment device, which when worn by the user, will notinterfere with the normal line of vision thereof.

Another general object of the present invention is to provide a deviceof the described character which will be simple in structure, economicalof manufacture, easily and quickly adorned and highly effective in use.

Other objects and advantages of the instant putt alignment device willbe set forth in part hereinafter and in part will be obvious herefrom,or may be learned by practice of the invention, the same being realisedand attained by means of the structure defined and pointed out in theappended claims.

The accompanying drawings referred to herein and constituting a parthereof, illustrate embodiments of the invention, and together with thedescription, serve to explain the principles of the invention.

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of the putt alignment device worn by theuser, the visual imaginary line between the ball and the cup of thegreen being shown therein;

FIGURE 2 is a perspective view of the preferred embodiment of theinvention;

FIGURE 3 is a perspective view of a modified embodiment of the deviceshown attached to a conventional pair of spectacles; and

FIGURE 4 is a top plan elevational view of the device according toFIGURE 3 wherein the adjustable positioning feature is illustrated.

Referring now in detail to the present preferred embodiment of theinvention illustrated in the accompanying drawings, FIGURES l and 2 showthe putt alignment device designated generally by numeral 1. 1

More specifically, the device according to the preferred embodimentincludes transparent member 2 having top and bottom edges 4, 6,respectively, and side edges 8 and 10. It will be understood thattransparent member 2 may be constructed of glass, plastic or any othersuitable composition and may be colored or not. Preferably, said memberis neither concave nor convex but may, however, be formed of lens-typeconfiguration. Further, it will be appreciated that said transparentmember may be completely framed as shown, or frameless or partiallyframed, such being merely a matter of choice. Said transparent member,as shown in FIGURE 1 of the drawings, is adapted to simultaneouslyextend across the lines of vision of both eyes of the user when saidmember is secured to the head thereof. Temple bow arms 12, 14, hinged at16 and 18, respectively, to the upper portion of the frame outlining topedge 4 of said member, extend above and behind the ears of the wearerthus providing means whereby said member may be removably secured to thehead of the user. Bridge portion 20 provides further securement for saidmember when supported upon the nose of the wearer in the usual manner.

Linear element 22 extending continuously and surfacedly of saidtransparent member is substantially parallel with respect to the topedge 4 thereof and is spaced from said top edge whereby it liesintermediate both eyes of the user and the object being viewed. Asshown, the length of said element is approximately the distance betweensaid side edges although, it will be understood, its length as shown ismerely exemplary, and may, however, extend beyond the said side edges orlie therewithin. The length of said element, must however, extend atleast sufficiently to simultaneously intercept the lines of vision ofboth eyes and therefore must at least equal the distance between thecenters of the eyes. The linear element illustrated in FIGURES 1 and 2consists of an opaque line imprinted across the transparent member. Thematerial forming the element may, however, take the form of a length oftape, cord, a crayon or ink mark, or any suitable material. The line maybe opaque, substantially opaque, translucent, or other suitably visibletexture.

With reference now to FIGURES 3 and 4 of the drawings, it will be seenthat a linear element 24 composed of wire is utilized. It will befurther seen that said element is spacedly disposed with respect to atransparent member 26, adjustment arms 28, 30 being connected to saidelement at one end, the other end of said adjustment arms being slidablysecured to temple bow arms 32, 34, the latter being equivalent ofconstruction and function to temple bow arms 12 and 14 asaforedescribed.

Adjustment arms 28, 30, accordingly provide means whereby the spacedrelation of said element with respect to said transparent member andeyes of the user may be accomplished. As shown in FIGURE 4 of thedrawings, said linear element is by way of example shown to occupy twopositions, i.e., one position designated by solid line 36, the otherposition designated by broken line 38. Slide fasteners 38, connected tosaid adjustment arms, facilitate movement of said linear element asdesired. Said arms 28 and 30 bend downwardly at 40, 42, thus positioningsaid element intermediate both eyes of the user and the objects beingviewed.

The length of said linear element according to the modified embodimentof FIGURES 3 and 4 is shown to be substantially greater than thedistance between the centers of the eyes of the user, varying lengthsthereof being, however, suitable as described hereinabove with respectto the preferred embodiment.

Accordingly, with the putt aligning device positioned in front of theeyes of the golfer, a guide line extending between the ball and the cupof the green may be vaguely seen, said line being the image of thelinear member subtended and superimposed along the path the golf ball isto be directed.

Although varying embodiments of the putt aligning device have beendescribed, it will be understood that within the purview of thisinvention various changes may be made in the forms, details, proportionand arrangement of parts, the combination thereof and mode of operation,which generally stated consists in a device capable of carrying out theobjects set forth, as disclosed and defined in the appended claim.

What is claimed is:

A putt alignment device for assisting a golfer in aligning the golf ballwith respect to the cup of the green, comprising a transparent member atleast a portion of which extends between the lines of vision of botheyes of the user when said member is positioned in front of the eyes,said transparent member having top, bottom and side edges, thetransparency of said at least a portion of said transparent member beinguninterrupted except for a linear element disposed contiguously andcontinuously thereacross, said linear element being in substantialparallelism with respect to said top edge, spaced with respect thereto,and extending at least the distance between both eyes of the user.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,527,027 10/1950Mull 214.1

FOREIGN PATENTS 27,252 1906 Great Britain.

206,311 11/1923 Great Britain.

LEONARD FORMAN, Primary Examiner.

ISAAC LISANN, ROBERT B. HULL, Examiners.

I. D. 13008, Assistant Examiner.

